control arm bushings
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Warrenton, VA
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1987 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: LS1
Transmission: LS1 T56
Axle/Gears: Richmond 3.73
control arm bushings
im trying to replace my front and rear controll arm bushings with polyurethene but i cant get the old bushings out. is there a good way to do it myself or should i just take them to the shop to get pressed?
#2
Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: York, Pa
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 84 olympic edition camaro
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: 700r4
Re: control arm bushings
I ended up making 2 cuts with a chop-saw through the old bushing to take out the middle part and just hammered out the remaining pieces left in the control arm. It only took about a half hour to do both of them. I could've pressed them out but in my opinion cutting them out is the fastest way. Just my
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SoCal "Riverside"
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: control arm bushings
i payed pepboys $75 to do it for me, they quoted me 1.5hrs at $50 an hour, and 20 minutes after i dropped them off they called me and said they were done, that was to remove the old bushings and install the new ES bushings
#4
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
7 Posts
Car: 87' IROC
Engine: L98
Transmission: T56
Re: control arm bushings
I would just buy new control arms with bushings installed. Most venders sell them for about $100 for their basic arms. A lot less hassle for better performance and not much more money.
Spohn: $105
UMI: $100
BMR: $100
Global West: $143
Lakewood: $108
Spohn: $105
UMI: $100
BMR: $100
Global West: $143
Lakewood: $108
#5
Banned
Re: control arm bushings
We have them for $99.99 a set- www.umiperformance.com/2015
Thanks!
Ryan
#7
Banned
Trending Topics
#8
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Western WA
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 85 Camaro
Engine: No
Transmission: No
Axle/Gears: No
Re: control arm bushings
Easier, yes, less expensive, no, unless you aren't willing to spend a couple hours changing the bushings yourself.
It costs less than half as much to just buy bushings and change them yourself then it does to buy aftermarket control arms, especially for A-arms.
It costs less than half as much to just buy bushings and change them yourself then it does to buy aftermarket control arms, especially for A-arms.
#9
Supreme Member
Re: control arm bushings
its not that hard i jut did some on my 91 s-10 they are same design and everything, s-10 were built on car chassis design even the steering boxes etc same as the cars
unlike full size trucks.
i just take air chisel and chop and collapse the shells til they fall out of the arms
then freeze the new bushings and they slide right in with grease and a socket and hammer
not a big deal at all
the upper ones on my 91 were completely gone the arm would move in and out about 3/4" by hand very easily just by grabbing a hold of the spindle and yanking or pushing it
it was bad,....
197k bone stock all original miles, and going strong still.
now it rides so smooth and less travel over bumps yay
so much different!
unlike full size trucks.
i just take air chisel and chop and collapse the shells til they fall out of the arms
then freeze the new bushings and they slide right in with grease and a socket and hammer
not a big deal at all
the upper ones on my 91 were completely gone the arm would move in and out about 3/4" by hand very easily just by grabbing a hold of the spindle and yanking or pushing it
it was bad,....
197k bone stock all original miles, and going strong still.
now it rides so smooth and less travel over bumps yay
so much different!
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Beaufort, SC
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.43
Re: control arm bushings
the way that i changed mine, i used a torch and a air hammer. you use the torch on the center metal sleeve. after a minute or two the rubber expands and pushes the sleeve out.(be careful, they shoot out) then use a screwdriver to pry the rubber out, then a air hammer easily crushes the metal sleeve out of the way. then you freeze the new bushing and lube it good, and they go in really easy with a rubber mallet. thats how i do it atleast. took me a few hours, but was pretty simple.
#11
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Bozeman MT
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 83 Camaro
Engine: 4 Bolt 350, Bowtie aluminum heads
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.42, superior axles, Torsen diff
Re: control arm bushings
I just wanted to make a recomendation in the front A-arms. I just installed some del-a-lum bushings in a friends car and the a-arms are allmost friction free. I have polyurethane in the front of my car and they are not nearly as free moving.
The one warning I have is the Del-a-lums where a PITA to install. Even freezeing the bushing and heating the arm didn't do the trick. I finally had to ever so gently take a die grinder to the A-arm and even then I needed heat along with a BFH to get the bushings in. The Polyurethane bushings where much easier to install, just needed the BFH and some grease.
The one warning I have is the Del-a-lums where a PITA to install. Even freezeing the bushing and heating the arm didn't do the trick. I finally had to ever so gently take a die grinder to the A-arm and even then I needed heat along with a BFH to get the bushings in. The Polyurethane bushings where much easier to install, just needed the BFH and some grease.
#12
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Fox Lake, IL
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 camaro sports coupe
Engine: Fast Burn 385
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt w/ 3.27 gears
Re: control arm bushings
I ended up making 2 cuts with a chop-saw through the old bushing to take out the middle part and just hammered out the remaining pieces left in the control arm. It only took about a half hour to do both of them. I could've pressed them out but in my opinion cutting them out is the fastest way. Just my
#13
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Western WA
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 85 Camaro
Engine: No
Transmission: No
Axle/Gears: No
Re: control arm bushings
Go to http://www.maximummotorsports.com/, / Products and Online Ordering (left side) / Tools / Rear Upper Control Arm Bushing Tool.
I have never seen this before about 5 minutes ago, and I am now wondering if anyone makes one that will work on our bushings...
I have never seen this before about 5 minutes ago, and I am now wondering if anyone makes one that will work on our bushings...
#14
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Bozeman MT
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 83 Camaro
Engine: 4 Bolt 350, Bowtie aluminum heads
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.42, superior axles, Torsen diff
Re: control arm bushings
One thing you could probably use is a ball joint press. It would probably work well with both the front A-arm and the rear LCAs
#15
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Manchester NH
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1985 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: 305
Transmission: T-5
Re: control arm bushings
check around with local machine shops I had both front A arms,4 bushings pressed out and installed for $20 bucks.I would go with a better control arm in the rear. I installed umi stuff and its great.But if your on a tight budget u could intall new bushings and I would box them in a little then put a fresh coat of paint.the stock stamped steel crap has a lot of flex in it.I would think bushings alone would almost be unnoticeable.Good luck
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Huachuca City AZ
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1989 & 1990 RS V8 TBI
Engine: 305 5.0 L
Transmission: T5
Re: control arm bushings
and where do you get them from? I could never find new I had to buy one from a junk yard!!
#17
Banned
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hotrodboba400
Firebirds for Sale
3
12-10-2019 07:07 PM